Scientists have expressed their concern that the Solar System may not be as stable as it seems. Happily orbiting the Sun, the eight planets (plus Pluto and other minor planets) appear to have a high degree of long-term gravitational stability. But Jupiter has a huge gravitational influence over its siblings, especially the smaller planets. It [...]

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So there is a 1% chance of an issue for us from Mercury going wandering before the sun goes red giant in 5 billion years.

But we already know we are 100% going to be toast in the next 1 to 2 billion years as the sun slowly heats up and the oceans boil away.

I think we have many other astronomical events to worry about with much bigger risks in that timescale.

Interesting though.

Let's see what the news channels make of it.

If Mercury eventually enters a Venus crossing orbit, wont that mean that according to the rules we can't call Mercury a planet any more?

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Always challenge the assumptions

Well, I guess we won't be toast if we survive till that point, because we will be probably capable of dismantling and moving planetary mass in the next 20000 years anyway.
Too much heat?Move the planet a few million kilometers away, please!

[sigh]Life looks more and more dangerous with each passing year...

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"Shut up and calculate" R. Feynman

We should introduce a 10²⁵ kg lower size cutoff for planets and be done with it.

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The other Shaltanac's joopleberry shrub is always a more mauve-y shade of pinky russet